Month: July 2012

Small Blogs Big Giveaways Blog Hop

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Blog Hops> Book Giveaway> ebook giveaway> Giveaways> Small Blogs Big Giveaways

 

small blogs big giveaways romance edition july giveaway

The biggest international giveaway online – 12 winners total!

 

How to win the books!
Winners will be able to choose from the big stash of prizes, it’s one BIG giveaway! You only need to enter it once via the rafflecopter tool (through any of the participating hosts. It’s different from a giveaway hop, where each blog hosts their own giveaway).
For each host you visit and fill out the form, you’ll receive one entry! For this giveaway there will be 7 winners, one for each giftcard + 5 more winners choose at least 5 books from the prize list!

Organized by: Reading Romances

Hosts:

Reading Reality
I am a book addict…and proud of it
The Book Tart
Sara Daniel Romance Author
Crossroads
Carolyn Hughey/K. T. Roberts

Featured Authors:
Hannah Fielding, Eden Connor, Amber Kallyn, Elaine Cantrell , J.T. Geissinger, Gayl Taylor, Carrie Pulkinen, Victoria Vane, Ann Montclair, Michelle Styles, Kate Hewitt , Nicola Marsh, Gina Ardito, Regan Black and Christy Hayes!

Follow the event on twitter or facebook!

ENTER TO WIN AND READ THE PRIZE LIST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | audio reviews> audiobooks> B Reviews> book reviews

I just finished, and by that I mean I finished it about an hour ago, Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris. Deadlocked is book 12, for anyone who doesn’t already know, in Harris’ quirky tale of the telepathic waitress in the fictional small-town of Bon Temps, Louisiana. It’s also a slightly alternate world where vampires are not only real, but everyone knows they’re real, because some enterprising inventor created a synthetic substitute for blood that allowed them to come out of the coffin.

And that’s where the fun began, in 2001, with Dead Until Dark. It has been mostly fun for those of us reading the series. It has not been fun for the heroine of this little tale, that telepathic waitress, Sookie Stackhouse. Sookie’s journey has been one crisis after another. The more she has learned about the world of the supernatural, the darker and more dangerous her life has become.

Be warned, Deadlocked is book 12 in an ongoing series. I will do my best not to include spoilers for Deadlocked, but there’s no reasonable way to say much about book 12 without spoiling something in books 1-11.

Deadlocked is the perfect title for this book, because Sookie’s life is deadlocked as the story opens. Eric Northman, her vampire lover, is the vampire “sheriff” of Shreveport and the surrounding area, including Bon Temps. However, his sire promised the Queen of Oklahoma that Eric would marry her, not long before the waste of space (I can’t type something disgusting enough) was killed. On Sookie’s front lawn.

Eric, Sookie, and Pam, Eric’s second-in-command, murdered the deputy of the King of Nevada. The man who Eric owes fealty to. The fact that the bastard was trying to kill them doesn’t matter. They should pay for his death. The King is in Shreveport to collect.

Sookie’s boss, and best friend, Sam Merlotte, is a were, a shapeshifter. His current girlfriend is second-in command of the local pack. Jannalyn hates Sookie, for no reason that Sookie can understand, except that Jannalyn thinks Sam and Sookie might be more than just friends. They’re not.

Then a girl dies. On Eric’s front yard this time. In the middle of a party. Just after he drank from her. It shouldn’t have anything to do with Sookie. But it does.

Her fae grandfather left her with a gift. It grants one wish, the wish of her heart. And everyone wants it. Or want her to use it.

Or wants her to die.

Escape Rating B: Too much of the first 2/3rds of the book is setup, and a lot of that setup involves Sookie’s situation just getting more and more, I want to say pitiful but that’s not quite it, let’s say worse, by the hour. Things shouldn’t be able to sink any lower, but they just keep heading downhill.

It is pretty obvious who the responsible parties are for everything that’s going wrong in Sookie’s universe. Why Sookie can’t see it, we’ll say dramatic license. The clues were pretty obvious and the herrings were very, very bright red.

On the other hand, the last third of the book saw the loose ends being knitted together. Every person, or at least every supernatural creature, who ever crossed Sookie’s path seems to be making a final appearance, a curtain call, one way or another. The author has announced that the next book will be the last in the series.

Lucky 13. How appropriate for a book about the creatures that go bump in the night. Or considering this series, maybe hump in the night is a better phrase.

A few notes on the audiobook version, read by Johanna Parker. Because the story is told from Sookie’s perspective, Ms. Parker is primarily voicing Sookie, although she does deepen her voice or drop her accent to represent the other characters when they speak. Her narration works because she is able to make herself sound like Sookie, at least to this listener. It sounds like Sookie is telling me her perspective on events as she is witnessing them. It’s marvelous. Occasionally, you want to slap her for concentrating on the wrong things, because you’re caught up in her telling you her story.

I just wish Sookie had gotten her act together sooner. She spends way too much of the book being passive. The narrator has a good handle on voicing Sookie’s inner dialogue. It would have made a better story if Sookie had less inner dialog and more outer action the first two thirds of the book.

Interview with Theresa Stillwagon on the Ghosts in her Stories

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Author Interviews> Author Q&A

Let’s welcome today’s special guest to Reading Reality, author Theresa Stillwagon! She’s here to talk about her both heart-warming and spine-chilling romantic suspense Winter Creek Montana series, where the local ghost population involves itself in the romances of the modern-day inhabitants.

The first two books in the series, Forgotten Memories (review here) and The Dressmaker’s Dilemma (review here) are a fascinating blend of sexy romance, historical mystery, and romantic suspense. And it’s all set in a ghost town! 

Let’s hear what Theresa has to say…

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Who is Theresa Stillwagon and what are your other loves besides writing?

I was born and raised in Ohio, but now I live in Georgia. I’ve been married for almost thirty years, loved cats, reading, playing online games, and spending time messing around on Facebook and Twitter. I love learning about new things and visiting historical sites.

What made you choose a ghost town as the setting for your Winter Creek, Montana, series? And is there a real Winter Creek?

I don’t really remember the reason. But I think it was because I recently visited Gettysburg, which is supposed to be haunted. (I was so disappointed when I didn’t see or feel anything strange.) Plus I was working in a nursing home where strange things happened every night. My story seemed to evolve from that.

The Winter Creek, Montana series is a fascinating blend of paranormal romance, contemporary and a little bit historical. Along with some historical mystery for spice. And ghosts. How did you come up with such an interesting mix of genres for this series?

It just kind of happened as I wrote it. Originally it was only meant to be a single story until I realized I left so many unanswered questions in Forgotten Memories. I needed to answer those questions.

Who first introduced you to the love of reading?

My parents. My dad also wrote some, but was never published. The favorite thing he’d written was a Christmas song called Happy Birthday Jesus. My sisters and I used to sing that song. I can still remember the words.

Who influenced your decision to become a writer?

It was one of my teachers in grade school. I went to a Catholic school and one of the nuns praised a poem I wrote. I don’t remember her name but I still remember her words and how I felt. It was rare when anyone praised me when I was growing up.

What book do you recommend everyone should read and why?

I don’t really have one book except the Bible. There are so many good writing books out there. One book I read over and over again is an old one by Helene Schellenberg Barnhart called Writing Romance Fiction, For Love and Money. It was written way back in the 1980s and is a bit outdated, but the tips and suggestion are still good.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?

I’m a bit of both. I need to know the characters pretty well (but not completely) and I need to have a few possible scenes and a possible ending before I can start writing. Some of the scenes are never used or changed, and the ending may or may not be the same.

Do your characters ever want to take over the story?

Yes, and I let them. It’s their story, isn’t it? Usually when I get stuck it’s because I’m trying to have the characters do something they don’t want to do.

Can you tell us a little bit about your upcoming projects? And what comes next in Winter Creek, Montana?

Right now I’m finishing up a short sexy book called Winning the Bet, then I’m going to work on the fourth book of another series, with another publisher. I’m in the thinking stages of the third Winter Creek book. I hoping to start it as soon as the first drafts of the other two are done.

Can you tell us three reasons why everyone should read your books?

Fun, edgy, and sexy.

Coffee or Tea?

Coffee. Which reminds me, I haven’t had any yet today.

From Ohio to Georgia, huh? That trip sounds familiar. Us Buckeyes have to stick together! I have to find out where in Ohio, because me, too. But what I really want to know is when that third Winter Creek book is going be out. I have a feeling it’s going to be Rose’s story. We’ll see.

Thanks so much, Theresa, for answering all of my questions. I’ll be looking forward to more adventures with the present-day inhabitants (and the ghosts) of Winter Creek, Montana.

Review: The Dressmaker’s Dilemma by Theresa Stillwagon

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | B Reviews> blog tours> book reviews

The second book in Theresa Stillwagon’s Winter Creek, Montana Series is more ghostly, more suspenseful, more dangerous, and therefore, more fun. This one is definitely a three-hankie special, both in the historic parts, and in the here-and-now.

The Dressmaker’s Dilemma in that she wants the cowboy, but not the ready-made family that comes along with him. And, as seems to be the norm in Winter Creek, the ghosts have decided that the modern-day humans are much, much better off if they right whatever wrongs happened in the past.

After all, the ghosts got it wrong the first time. So they know enough not to get it wrong the second time. Or not wrong the same way.

Barb Grant is the dressmaker for the re-enactment. She’s responsible for making all the costumes for this living history ghost town. But Barb has a few “ghosts” of her own. Memories that made her “run away” from her old life to the remote town of Winter Creek.

Wyatt Campbell is the cowboy. He didn’t know his divorced wife had their daughter. Without warning, she’s dead and he’s a single father.

Whatever is in Barb’s past makes Wyatt’s instant fatherhood seem irresponsible, and she wants no part of it. But she still wants the man. And he’s always wanted her. He’s just been way too slow about staking his claim.

His pre-teen daughter wants a mother. Jaime thinks that she, Wyatt, and Barb make a perfect family. And the ghosts think that they right a wrong, somewhere back in the past.

Meanwhile, someone wants to destroy the town, right now. The ghosts want to stop that. Because it’s all happened before. And they don’t want it to happen again. Too many people have already shed their blood for the secrets the town holds. And the ghosts think that enough is more than enough.

Escape Rating B+: The more the ghosts get involved, the more suspenseful and fascinating the story gets. I’m enjoying the way the past and the present are intertwining as more and more secrets get revealed. Each love story gets resolved within one book, but there’s and overall story about the town’s past that just keeps getting more fascinating.

I can’t wait for the next chapter. Oops, I meant book.

Review: Forgotten Memories by Theresa Stillwagon

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | B Reviews> blog tours> book reviews

Ghost towns are such fascinating places. Even more when they get turned into living history museums. In the hands of a talented storyteller, the tales of parallel lives filtered through the shades of the past, and the light of the present, can make for quite haunting reading.

So we begin the Winter Creek, Montana Series by Theresa Stillwagon, starting with Forgotten Memories.

Jen Ferguson is both a history professor and a psychic, which makes for a pretty interesting combination when it comes to rebuilding a ghost town. She can see the ghosts. And she has studied the history of the area.

Too bad it’s her experience in the present that causing her the most trouble. The revival of Winter Creek is really her baby, her pet project. She knows the area.

But an impetuous affair with a hot-shot historian has tarnished her professional credentials, throwing all of her hard work in question. In the halls of academe, when an affair ends, the man always comes out ahead, no matter how big a jerk he is.

Jen is forced to act like an Old West schoolmarm to save her academic reputation, even though the man she broke up with is telling lies about their supposed engagement. He’s the one with the big list of publications. She’s still just a local girl.

Too bad the building at Winter Creek that she’s rehabbing for the college is the town saloon, and that one of the late “good-time gals” is sending her messages. Telling her that the hot new rancher riding through town, Adam Craine, is just the man to show her that not all men are jerks.

Adam’s also the spitting image of a former Winter Creek resident. Adam and Jen are part of a century-old mystery, one that the ghost wants to help them solve – before old grudges take more lives in the here and now.

Escape Rating B: I absolutely love living history museums, which is what initially attracted me to this series. The romance between Adam and Jen is plenty hot and sparky, and it’s doubly fascinating as it plays out across two time-periods, because it’s not just the present, but the ghosts also get involved. Adam and Jen wait to be sure they are acting on their own desires, and not re-enacting someone else’s. Very hot and very emotionally well done.

The element that kept this from being a B+ or A was the way Jen was treated by the College and “The Jerk”, and even her grandfather, regarding her personal life. This is the 21st century, not the 1950’s. While there is still a double-standard in many ways, Jen’s treatment seemed exaggerated, considering that both parties were single. I understand why she wouldn’t trust another man. I didn’t understand her employer’s reaction to the aftermath of the relationship, especially since most of it happened before the Jerk was employed at her college and they were not in a supervisory relationship.

Author Interview: Stacey Kennedy is Mystically Bound

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | Author Interviews> Author Q&A> blog tours

Today’s interview was my chance to buttonhole Stacey Kennedy about her writing, her utterly marvelous paranormal/urban fantasy Frostbite series (see my reviews of the first two books, Supernaturally Kissed and Demonically Tempted to get an idea of just how fantastic they are) and ask some questions about the totally damnable cliffhanger at the end of Demonically Tempted. (Grrr!) The next book in the series, Mystically Bound, can’t come soon enough for this reader.

 

Since I’m dying to let everyone see the answers to those questions, here’s Stacey!

Tell us a little bit about Stacey Kennedy? Who are you when you’re not writing? Really?

If I’m not writing I’m a mom and wife. My time is split right down the middle between both of my “jobs”. So, if I’m not on the keyboard then I’m playing Barbies, making silly crafts, or spending the day at park. I love the outdoors, and the second summer hits we like to go camping as often as we can, which usually works out to 2-3 times a month. What can I say? I love campfires and s’mores!!

Other than that, I love to have fun and laugh! I love movies, girl’s night out where I’m up way too late, patios with lots of chicken wings and beer, reading, and just all that crazy stuff that girls like to do! I like to party and I love to dance! I’m always up for a good time!!

Who first introduced you to the love of reading?

Good question. To be honest, I’m not sure how I was first introduced to reading. I’m sure school played a part, but my mom reads about as much as I do. So, I imagine she rubbed off on me. But she never pushed reading or anything like that. I think it more or less grew on me. Now I can totally admit that I’m 100% addicted!

Who influenced your decision to become a writer?

Of course, books influenced me the most. My love for storytelling came because the stories I read captivated me. I suppose you could say they awakened my love of getting lost in another world. It was from reading that I got the itch to write my stories and create my own fun worlds.

But my hubby was so supportive when I came out of nowhere and said I was going to write a story. While I expected him to roll his eyes at me and call it silly since I’d never shown an interest before, he actually said that he thought I’d be great at it. It was his support that gave me the push to sit down and do it!

What book do you recommend everyone should read? Okay, now tell us why you picked that book!

It’s gotta be Keri Arthur’s, Riley Jenson Guardian series. And no, I can’t pick one book from that series to recommend. They’re all fantastic. If you like fast-paced action, heartbreak, romance, and just a fabulous read pick up that series. It’s one of my all-time favorites!

Are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?

For most stories, I never plot or outline. I usually just sit down and let the characters tell the story. But for stories, like DEMONICALLY TEMPTED, I did have to outline that one because the plot was more complicated. There were certain points I needed to hit in that stories especially since they will have an impact on book three, MYSTICALLY BOUND.  I needed to see them out in front of me to make sure I wasn’t missing anything.

Usually I outline when my plot and subplots are complex. Also, if there are quite a few subplots working together I like to make sure I hit all the plot points, so having an outline helps me find the flow of the story. That’s normally how I do it. I write down the three major plot points with the biggest twists in the story, then work around them. But my outlines are very simple and in point form. Then with the guide to follow, I go panster style and write. Typically, my outlines are always changing.

Do your characters ever want to take over the story?

My characters own the show. I never have control! I accepted that a long time ago and stopped fighting against them because in the end the direction they take me always ends up being the right one.

Take Tess and Kipp for an example. When I had outlined DEMONICALLY TEMPTED it didn’t look at all like the finished product. Once I hit the halfway mark in that story, Tess took me in an entirely new direction and I let her go there, even though it hurt to do so! Now I’m happy of course, because I see how the series will play out and it’s going to be exciting!

Now let’s get specific. Did you always plan that for that damn cliffhanger-to-end-all-cliffhangers at the end of Demonically Tempted, or how did that come about?

“dliffhanger-to-end-all-cliffhangers” LOL! Like I said above, the cliffhanger was not my original idea for how that book would end. In fact, I had planned for an ending that was far different from how it turned out. To put it simply, I had originally planned for a much happier ending that wrapped up the “big” issue between Tess and Kipp. I can’t say more without spoiling the new ending, but I had intended for both Tess and Kipp to be very happy.

So, it was a fight not to go that route, but I eventually gave in and let the story go where it needed to. It was never my intention to torture Tess as much as she’s suffered in DEMONICALLY TEMPTED, and even more so what she’ll face in MYSTICALLY BOUND, but that shift in the story felt right.

What’s the reaction been to that cliffhanger? Do people beg you for details of how it’s going to turn out? Have you received any interesting bribes?

I actually received more of a reaction from the first book, SUPERNATURALLY KISSED, with everyone trying to figure out what was going on with Kipp. It did surprise me how many people had it guessed right away, while others were totally shocked by the ending of book two. There were four spots in the first book where I implied the “truth”. Some saw it, others didn’t. And isn’t that just fun!!

I admit I was slightly concerned how people would react to the cliffhanger at the end of DEMONICALLY TEMPTED, and while some people have wanted to hex me, they’ll forgive me as long as I don’t take too long to write the next book. It’s even better knowing that some people think they have it all figured out and that they know how Tess and Kipp will end up with their happily ever after, but I have lots of surprises coming up in the next book that should shock! Because heck, they’re shocking me now!!

If the series were turned into a movie (in your wildest dreams!) who would you want to play Tess and Kipp?

Without a doubt Paul Walker for Kipp and Rachel McAdams for Tess.

What plans do you have for the future (after Mystically Bound)?

I do plan to finish the Frostbite series in early 2013, which means I expect to release the 4th and final book in the series by February/March. But I just have to see how my schedule is first. There are many releases coming out in 2013 including my baby, WEREWOLVES BE DAMNED that is my first ever mass-market paperback, and I expect that series will eat up a lot of my time.  So, let’s just leave it at, 2013 will be a very exciting year with tons of fun releases!

Speaking of Mystically Bound, when in the Fall? I want to start counting days.

I’m glad you do!! I’m just as excited to write it. I’m aiming for the end of October and I hope nothing comes up that pushes me off that date. I’m starting to write Mystically Bound within the next week and am so eager to dive in!

Coffee or Tea?

I’m a coffee gal all the way. Starbucks is even better!

Places to find Stacey:

Website | Blog | Facebook |Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

I want to thank Stacey for answering all my questions, and I may want to choke her for dragging out what sounds like will finally be Tess and Kipp’s happily ever after until book 4 (no one said I’d have to wait until book 4!!!!) of her awesome Frostbite series.

Patience is not one of my virtues, but I guess I’ll just have to wait. And congratulations on your upcoming paperback release of Werewolves Be Damned. It’s already on my “to-read” list on Goodreads.

I’m afraid to find out how long your new series will be. Very afraid. Because I just know I’m going to love it.

 

Guest Post: Blue Plaque Inspirations from Grace Elliot

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | blog tours> Guest Posts

I’d like to welcome today’s special guest, Grace Elliot. Grace is the author of The Huntley Trilogy; Eulogy’s Secret, Hope’s Betrayal (review here) and the forthcoming Verity’s Lies, as well as her extremely favorably received debut, A Dead Man’s Debt. Reviewers have been comparing Ms. Elliot to Georgette Heyer. High praise, indeed! 

I enjoyed the glimpse into the hardships that drove people into the smugglers’ life, as embodied in the heroine of Hope’s Betrayal. But as Ms. Elliot tells us in her guest post, there was more reality in the story than I thought.

Read on for the details…

Blue Plaque Inspiration*

Hello, it’s lovely to be here and thank you to Marlene for hosting me. I love Marlene’s strap line, ‘Escape reality, read fiction,’ and it inspired me to post about how real life inspired my latest historical romance, ‘Hope’s Betrayal.’

Everyone needs an escape from the pressures of everyday life and one of my safety valves is visiting theIsle of Wight. It is a beautiful, tranquil place with secret beaches, ever changing seas and wonderful wildlife – especially birds. We are lucky enough to stay within sight of the sea, in a place where the village green is flanked by Georgian fishermen’s cottages. The pace of life is so relaxing there, plenty of time for walks, reading and letting the imagination run riot – which brings me back to the inspiration behind ‘Hope’s Betrayal.’

In the 17th and 18th century the long coastline, with secluded inlets and treacherous shallows, made it an ideal for the local fishermen to take up the lucrative business of smuggling. On one of my walks in the village, I spotted a blue-plaque (*) mounted amongst the wisteria on a cottage wall. The plaque marked the birth place of a fisherman’s daughter, born in 1792, who eventually married a Prince from the royal house of Bourbon. This whetted my appetite to find out more and I started researching the ‘Lady of Chantilly.’

I found out that this woman, a humble fisherman’s daughter, was reputedly so beautiful that when caught smuggling, the Revenue officer couldn’t bring himself to arrest her. Now whether this local lore is true, or a romantic embellishment of the facts, it set my writer’s mind whirling. What a fantastic starting point for a story – the tension between two people, who live on opposite sides of the law, falling in love! Which would be stronger: the values they were raised with, or their love? What would be the price of such a love?

And thus ‘Hope’s Betrayal’, was born:

(* – In the UK, places of special note, i.e. birth places of famous writers, politicians, etc. are marked by a blue-plaque on the wall which lists the details of their life.)

Situated in the Solent, just off the south coast of England, the Island has a rich maritime history, and one especially linked with smuggling. In the 17th and 18th centuries it was a perfect stop over for fisherman secretly importing goods from France to England.

*****

Book Description

Hope’s Betrayal (The Huntley Trilogy, Book 2)

One wild, winter’s night two worlds collide. 
Known for his ruthless efficiency, Captain George Huntley is sent to stamp out smuggling on the south coast of England. On a night raid, the Captain captures a smuggler, but finds his troubles are just beginning when the lad turns out to be a lass, Hope Tyler. 
With Hope as bait, the Captain sets a trap to catch the rest of the gang. But in a battle of wills, with his reputation at stake, George Huntley starts to respect feisty, independent Hope. Challenged by her sea-green eyes and stubborn loyalty Huntley now faces a new threat – his growing attraction to a sworn enemy. And a love where either Hope betrays her own kind, or Captain Huntley is court-martialed, is not an easy destiny to follow.

A little more about the author, Grace Elliot:

Grace Elliot leads a double life as a veterinarian by day and author of historical romance by night. Grace believes intelligent people need to read romance as an antidote to the modern world. As an avid reader of historicals she turned to writing as a release from the emotionally draining side of veterinary work.

Grace lives near London and is addicted to cats. The Elliot household consists of five cats, two teenage sons, one husband, a guinea pig – and the latest addition – a bearded dragon!

You can follow Grace on her blog “Fall in Love With History.” or her Grace Elliot website and of course Facebook and twitter.

I’d like to thank Grace for being here today, and for this fascinating glimpse into the writing of Hope’s Betrayal. And also for that marvelous cat picture! He does not look best pleased to be photographed. I’ve seen that disgruntled expression before. I think there’s another story there!

 

Review: Hope’s Betrayal by Grace Elliot

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | B Reviews> blog tours> book reviews

Hope’s Betrayal by Grace Elliot is the second book in her Huntley Trilogy (after Eulogy’s Secret).  The Huntley Trilogy are unusual historical romances, not just because the Huntley brothers seen so far definitely work for their livings and because the heroines are definitely not society chits. It’s a refreshing change.

Hope Tyler is a smuggler. There’s no romance in her choice of occupation, nor any adventure. For Hope, it’s a matter of her family’s survival, pure and simple. Hope’s home on the Isle of Wight has lost too many of its men to the war (Napoleon), to disease or to fishing accidents. When the economy is bad, the English coast turns to smuggling. There is no other work. Hope and her brother are in the smuggling trade to put food on the table.

Captain George Huntley works for the Crown. His current assignment is to put a stop to, or at least a dent in, the smuggling trade. It keeps him occupied while his ship is undergoing refit in Portsmouth. Then he’ll be back at sea, and away from land, from the Isle of Wight, from the family estate, and from his mother, Lady Constance.

There are two serious problems with George’s mission. One is that everyone in England seems to be a party to the smuggling trade. Everyone wants luxury goods, like tea and French lace, but no one wants to pay the tax.

The second problem is a raid that goes horribly wrong. One of George’s men is killed. And the only smuggler he manages to catch is a boy. A boy he knows can’t be guilty of the actual shooting, because George was chasing the boy at the time.

But since the boy is the only smuggler available, he’ll probably hang anyway. But when George carries him to his house to get him seen to – the boy was only caught because he broke his ankle – George discovers that this smuggler, this criminal, is a young woman.

And George can’t make himself sent her to jail. He says it’s because she might lead her confederates to rescue her. It’s really because he wants her for himself.

But his mother finds her first. And discovers that Hope might be more than she appears. Even if she is still exactly what she appeared, a smuggler who should be hanged for her admitted crimes.

Leaving George trapped between his duty and his desires. With his mother standing guard over his prisoner, and his men howling for justice.

George does the only thing he can under the circumstances. He requests a transfer. How could George know that leaving would only make everything worse?

Escape Rating B: It was great to see a view of the Regency/Napoleonic Wars period from a perspective other than that of the upper crust. Even though George’s mother is Lady Constance, the family seems to be from the “squirearchy” more than the aristocracy. (The third book is about the oldest brother, and it could prove me totally wrong.)

However, George is a naval man, not a lord. His only title is Captain, and he earned that one.  And Hope is definitely no lady. Her family is so poor, she’s turned to smuggling just to keep eating.

Hope’s plight is what makes this story different. It’s not a romantic view of the smuggler’s trade. There are no dashing pirates here. It’s all about bone-deep poverty. Her village will starve if they don’t turn to smuggling. And that’s the point she brings home to George and Lady Constance.

There is no other work. It’s the free trade, or starvation. And plenty of supposedly law-abiding people will happily buy their smuggled goods as long as they don’t have to get their hands dirty in the actual smuggling.

There’s also a sweet love story between George and Hope. It is very sweet, and just a tad bit unrealistic. Not that they wouldn’t fall for each other, but that love (and his family’s position of privilege) would manage to conquer her very real criminal record.

But you want the happily ever after enough to let it go.

Review: The Blacksmith’s Lover by Heather Massey

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | 4 Stars> book reviews> Originally published at Book Lovers, Inc.> The Rocket Lover

Format Read: ebook from author
Number of Pages: 100 p.
Release Date: June 1, 2012
Publisher: Red Sage Publishing
Series: The Clockpunk Trilogy #2
Genre: Steampunk
Formats Available: ebook
Purchasing Info: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Book Depository US | Book Depository (UK)

Book Blurb:

The year is 1840. On the run after being caught in a scandalous incident, scullery maid Sarah Bailey must find refuge before her vengeful former mistress has her killed. When she stumbles upon a blacksmith’s shop in need of an apprentice in West Boylston, Massachusetts, she applies for the position.

Viktor is a brawny, reclusive blacksmith who creates strange clockwork and steam-powered devices. The gruff man makes it clear that Sarah’s plight is no concern of his, but ghosts from his past dictate otherwise. Viktor agrees to protect the spunky maid, but only until her trail of henchmen runs cold.

Sarah quickly discovers that the fire of this blacksmith’s forge runs volcanic hot. Unable to resist one another, she and Viktor begin a lust-filled affair. But how long will their idyllic arrangement last before Sarah’s former mistress destroys it?

My Thoughts:

This was originally posted at Book Lovers Inc.

There aren’t a lot of romances with working-class heroes. In historic romances, everyone’s a nobleman. In contemporary romances, everyone is either a white-collar worker, military, or police.

That’s a broad generalization, but maybe not too far off.

In an early scene in The Blacksmith’s Lover, the heroine, Sarah, sees Viktor, the Blacksmith, bathing nude, and it does kind of make you wonder why there aren’t more blacksmith-heroes, at least in erotica.

While you’re fanning yourself, think about it.

However, that’s not the point of the story. There’s plenty of steam in this steampunk, but it doesn’t get there until later. There’s also not a lot of steampunk, or clockpunk, in this story at the beginning. It sort of eases its way in, too.

What we have throughout is the subversive story of two people who rescue each other. Viktor and Sarah are really equals. It just takes them a good chunk of the story to figure that out.

It works as a story. Viktor’s no nobleman, although he is very noble in his own way. And Sarah’s no simpering miss, either. They are both strong. Not just strong -willed, but physically strong. He needs her as much as she needs him. And not just for sex, although that turns out to be a big part of what happens.

They also have one heck of a lot of secrets, and they are keeping way too many of those secrets from each other to have a happily ever after. It almost costs them everything.

One big secret involves the steampunk/clockpunk element. Viktor learned some really cool stuff back in Russia. He learned to make mechanical marvels. He wants to train an apprentice, to pass his secrets on. Instead of getting an apprentice blacksmith, he gets Sarah.

She wants a refuge. And finds a protector. Together, they make a formidable team. It’s all a matter of learning to trust.

It made sense that Viktor was keeping the more “outlandish” aspects of his blacksmithing a secret from the general populace. Trust does not come easy to him. Neither does communication. He’s used to working with his hands, not talking. Yet he needs to find someone to train. It’s a very real problem.

This story begins because Sarah is being hounded by her previous employer, Mrs. Reynolds. The issue with Mrs. Reynolds does have to be resolved before this story can come to an end, and it does involve Viktor’s clockworks and steamworks. All does get revealed.

But I’m glad we don’t really see much of Mrs. Reynolds. I found her motivations completely unbelievable, even in fiction.

The Blacksmith’s Lover is a more “traditional” steampunk romance than The Watchmaker’s Lady. Both the lovers are fully human, and the reader doesn’t find themselves wondering if the hero is out of his mind.  Without that challenge, the story is not quite as haunting.

Which makes it very steamy steampunk with a down-to-earth hero and a heroine who is his equal. For that, I give The Blacksmith’s Lover 4 stars.

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